Peter Lavelle

Sunday February 23, 2014

The EU's so-called "crisis plan" for Ukraine is itself a recipe for catastrophe. It is a brokered plan by the wrong people, under extreme (western) outside pressure, and on behalf of a small group of backward looking and dangerous ideologues. The plan essentially leaves Ukraine ungovernable and inadvertently promotes a secessionist agenda.

The EU's really bad plan

The idea to return to the constitutional order of 2004 is pointless and truly bizarre. One of the key issues during the Orange Revolution was which institution should predominate - the presidency or parliament. Well, the Ukrainians have now tried both with the same result - failure. Why a parliamentary-centered system will work now is not explained. What is worrisome is the fact that Viktor Yanukovych has agreed to give away to parliament control over the police and security forces. Don't expect any investigation into extreme violencecommitted by the rioters. But do expect a witch-hunt against the police and security forces!

The brokered deal calls for a "national unity government" within days. Will this include the Right Sector? How about those who used violence against the legally established constitutional regime? If this is the case, then it is akin to allowing arsonists to become firefighters. While Dmitro Yarosh's Right Sector controls the streets of Kiev national unity is an illusion.read on...